Iata Warns Terrorists May Soon Launch New Attacks on Planes, Airports

A warning to international airlines and air passengers that Arab terrorists may soon launch new attacks on civilian planes and airports in Western Europe was issued today by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) from its Geneva headquarters. The communique said IATA security services had discovered that the recent explosion of a bomb in the luggage compartment of an El Al plane on a Rome-Lod flight “was not an isolated instance but part of a general plan.”

IATA cautioned all air travellers not to accept parcels or presents from strangers before boarding planes and to carefully check their own luggage for explosives concealed “by terrorist elements.” Airport security services throughout Western Europe were asked by IATA to increase security checks on passengers and their baggage.